A new study published Wednesday in JAMA Cardiology reveals a meaningful link between levels of the genetic marker lipoprotein(a) and increased cardiovascular risk in women. The research, stemming from nearly three decades of data collected in the Women’s Health Study, suggests a simple blood test could offer crucial insights into long-term heart health – even for those currently without symptoms.Investigators say the findings underscore the importance of considering genetic predispositions alongside customary risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2026 – 07:13 AM
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</p>A large-scale medical study has revealed a significant link between elevated levels of lipoprotein(a) in the blood and a substantially increased risk of cardiovascular disease over a 30-year period in women, even those who were initially healthy. This finding highlights the importance of understanding genetic risk factors for heart disease.
Heart Disease Risk
According to reporting from Times Now News, the research, conducted by investigators at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in the United States and published in JAMA Cardiology, followed nearly 28,000 women participating in the “Women’s Health Study,” one of the longest-running prospective studies in the field, from 1993 to 2023.
Lipoprotein(a), a genetically determined cardiovascular risk factor, stabilizes in blood levels during the first two years of life and remains relatively constant throughout adulthood. Because of this stability, researchers suggest that a single measurement may be sufficient to assess future risk.
The results showed that women with very high levels of lipoprotein(a) were significantly more likely to experience major cardiovascular events, such as heart attacks, strokes, and cardiovascular death – with a risk increase ranging from 54% to 74% compared to women with lower levels.
Translating these percentages into absolute numbers, the study estimated that the overall cardiovascular risk increases by approximately 10% over 30 years for women with extremely elevated levels.
Researchers observed a gradual increase in risk starting at a level of 30 mg/dL, but the association became more pronounced above 120 mg/dL. Risks of stroke and cardiovascular death were primarily concentrated at the very highest levels, exceeding 130 mg/dL.
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